Graduation Year

2015

Graduation Month

May

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Music

School or Department

Music

Major

Music

Faculty Mentor Department

Music

Faculty Mentor

Dr. James Randall

Subject Categories

Music Pedagogy | Music Performance | Music Practice

Abstract

Performance anxiety is a crippling problem for many performing musicians. Success in dealing with such a problem can make or break a performance; therefore, it becomes necessary for musicians to learn ways to cope with debilitating nerves. As a performing pianist myself, I am interested in investigating ways current performance anxiety research can be best applied to ease musicians’ stage fright. As there is a gap between current academic research on this subject and pedagogical practice, many teachers lack good advice to give students suffering stage fright. My thesis paper incorporates my personal experiences in mental practice with current academic literature in the fields of music as well as sports psychology and surgical medicine. Drawing from these resources, I will suggest a more structured pedagogy to help students and musicians develop a mental practice routine to combat performance anxiety. Practice techniques such as mental awareness and visualization can provide musicians with tools to alleviate performance anxiety and achieve a better performance

Honors College Research Project

Yes

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© Copyright 2015 Stephanie M. Quist